Trailer trash!

By Shaun Inguanzo
LOWLY thieves have targeted Dandenong’s most vulnerable people by stealing a $1000 trailer from a local charity.
The Cornerstone Contact Centre in Walker Street is usually a safe haven for Dandenong’s poor, homeless, and isolated people.
But last week it was the target of thieves who stole the charity’s trailer worth $1000 and invaluable in its role in assisting Cornerstone clients in moving house, and collecting the large amounts of food used to feed hungry, and often starving, Dandenong residents.
Cornerstone is this week calling for the community’s help in either locating or replacing the trailer as it resorts to using volunteers’ car boots to transport food and belongings.
The theft happened overnight on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March.
Cornerstone pastor Max Walker said the trailer was in lock-up and that thieves had used bolt cutters to penetrate the trailer’s storage area.
“Our volunteers got there the next morning to prepare meals and saw the trailer had gone,” he said.
“They couldn’t believe their eyes, and initially thought somebody had borrowed it.
“But when they saw the padlock laying on the ground and the door forced open they knew it wasn’t the case.”
The trailer belonged to volunteer David Munroe, from Narre Warren, who had just spent $750 upgrading it.
“I was in the middle of doing it up, and had spent $750 on new wheels and a jockey wheel,” he said.
“I say the trailer was valued at $1000.
“I was annoyed, not just because they stole the trailer off me – I don’t look at it that way.
“I leave it there for everyone to use, such as helping people move, going to get food and everything.
“The point is it has been knocked off from an old church that is now a charitable place.
“(People) are low when they get to doing things like that.”
Mr Munroe said the trailer was 2×4 metres in size, had an ox-blood coloured undercoat – ready to be painted – with BMW branded mags, Michelin branded tyres, a foldable jockey wheel and was open aired.
The registration number is F51792.
Cornerstone has reported the matter to Dandenong Police and is hoping the charity’s insurance policy will cover the loss.
Anyone with information about the theft should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone wishing to help Cornerstone Contact Centre should contact pastor Max Walker on 0439 330 262.